A fashion designer is someone who study fashion trends, sketch designs, select materials, and have a part in all the production aspects of their designs.

Work Environment

Fashion designers work in wholesale or manufacturing establishments, apparel companies, retailers, theater or dance companies, and design firms.

The industries that employed the most fashion designers in 2012 were as follows:

Apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers 28%

Apparel manufacturing 17%

Management of companies and enterprises 12%

Specialized design services 5%

Wholesale electronic markets and agents and brokers 2%

Duties of Fashion Designer

Fashion designers typically do the following:

Study fashion trends and anticipate designs that will appeal to consumers

Decide on a theme for a collection

Use computer-aided design programs (CAD) to create designs

Visit manufacturers or trade shows to get fabric samples

Select fabrics, embellishments, colors, or style for each garment or accessory

Work with other designers or team members to create a prototype design

Present design ideas to the creative director or showcase them in fashion or trade shows

Market designs to clothing retailers or directly to consumers

Oversee the final production of their designs